Golf club putter and method of putting

ABSTRACT

A golf club putter and method of putting which complies with the rules of golf provides the player with an improved view of the ball and head of the putter when putting putts of a short distance The method provides a putting stroke which aids the golfer in carrying out a putting stroke, maintains the putting face of the putter in a perpendicular orientation which respect to the line-of-putt thereby compensating for the golfer&#39;s tendency to deviate the putter face from the perpendicular orientation with respect to the line-of-putt. The steps of the method include addressing standing on an opposing side of a golf hole from the golf ball resting a surface of the green, straddling an extending line of the putt extending from the golf ball through the golf hole, extending a golf putter from the opposing side of the golf hole and positioning the putter head of the golf putter behind the golf ball with respect to the golf hole, resting the putter head of the golf putter on the surface of the green behind the ball and drawing the putter head of the golf putter toward the golf hole thereby striking the golf ball on a side of the golf ball opposing the golf hole such that the golf ball travels towards the hole.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf putter and a method ofputting. More particularly, the putter according to the presentinvention is specifically designed for use with a modified putting stylewherein the golfer reaches across the hole and uses the putter in apulling motion in directing the ball towards the hole. The puttingmethod according to the present invention complies with current rules ofgolf as promulgated by the Royal and Ancient Golf Association as well asthe United States Golf Association

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In an effort to improve the putting performance of golfers, priorgolf club putters have been provided with a variety of head and shaftconstructions and arrangements. In that the putt is perhaps the singlemost difficult yet important shot in golf, the selection of thesecomponents which match the golfer both physically and mentally isimportant. Approximately one half of the allotted strokes on any givengolf course in order to achieve an even par round are putts.

[0003] Before a player can even stroke the ball on a putting surface ofa green, the player must visually examine the contour of the puttingsurface and judge its effect on the path of the ball rolling toward thehole from the current position of the ball. Other characteristics of theputting surface or other factors can also have a significant effect onthe path of a put already stroked and rolling towards the hole. In thisregard, given the various putting strokes utilized by individuals, it isnecessary to design a putter construction which can not only be utilizedby various players having various putting strokes, but also by a singleplayer who may have a varying putting stroke depending upon the lengthof the putt.

[0004] As noted above, golf courses are designed and standards forscoring are set based on the assumption that a player will be able tohit the ball onto the putting surface in two strokes less than par foreach hole. Once the ball is on the putting surface, the player isallowed two putts to stroke the ball into the hole in order to play thehole at even par. Thus, an 18-hole course is designed to allow 36 puttsin a round of golf played at even par. Accordingly, a premium is placedon making a second putt when a first putt of a longer distance notfalling in the hole, settles relatively close to the hole and within adistance of less than two feet. Many a golf tournaments are won and lostby the players ability to make short and what may appear to berelatively simple putts. However, as one of the most recent major golftournaments will attest, making putts of this distance is not aguarantee.

[0005] As noted hereinabove, in an effort to improve the puttingperformance of golfers, prior golf club putters have been provided witha variety of head and shaft constructions and arrangements. One suchputter has an elongated cylindrical head with a conventional straightshaft attached to the head and in alignment with the longitudinal axisof the head. Further, putters such as those similar to that illustratedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,342 include an elongated head and a shaft havinga shank and an offset portion adjacent its lower end which is connectedto the elongated head at a point immediately adjacent the center of thehead between the proposed ends thereof. In accordance with thatdisclosed in such patent, the point at which the offset portion of theshaft is connected to the head is also offset transversely from thelongitudinal axis of the head so that it lies between this axis and theback of the head. This is presumed to provide the player with a betterview of the ball and putter head when putting. However, it is notpossible to utilize this putter in carrying out the putting stroke inaccordance with the present invention as will be discussed in greaterdetail hereinbelow.

[0006] Numerous putter designs similar to that discussed hereinabovehave been developed over the years. Many of these putters having variousmaterials from which the putter head is made. These materials may add toor take away from the overall weight of the putter in order to provide abetter feel to the user. Various materials are illustrated, for example,in U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,310, where the head includes a rounded strikingsurface wherein the heal and toe portions are of a greater weight thanthe central portion. Additionally, putter heads may take on a variety ofconfigurations which reduce the frictional component of the putter orimprove the balance and feel of the putter with respect to the user.

[0007] A noted contemporary instructor on putting, Dave Pells, hasstudied the effects of misalignment relative to a target line due to theputters swing path, the putter face and the optimum hitting location onthe putter surface each of which effect the ultimate putting success. Asnoted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,832, Mr. Pell's has found that all threetypes of misalignment caused significant error in the putting stroke andthus decrease the chance of the ball going into the hole. However, it isclear that misalignment of the putter face with respect to aline-of-putt causes the largest deviation from the players intended pathof any particular putt. In order to reduce the possibility ofmisalignment of the putter face, path and hitting location, Mr. Pells'recommends that the players' putting stroke start with the optimumhitting location on the putting face immediately adjacent the ball andthat the stroke travel along a path aligned with the target line withthe face remaining perpendicular to the target line for the entirestroke. However, when a player swings the putter around the spine only,such a stroke often times does not result. In effect, the putter pathcorresponds to the target line at only one point at its arc and the faceis perpendicular to the target line at only one point in its arc andthose two points do not necessarily coincide. Thus, to execute a strokein a path along a target line and with a square putter face while usinga traditional putting stance and stroke requires a complex combinationof multi-access rotational movements. Executing such a multi-accessstroke in a manner that accomplishes the primary and complex task ofcausing the ball to roll smoothly along a precise path at a precisespeed renders the most difficult and important stroke even moredifficult.

[0008] Some of the most common practice aids and drills in golf aredesigned purely to enable players to engrain this complex, cumbersomemulti-axis putting stroke into their muscle memory. Other players simplyconcentrate on swinging the putter around only their spine and trainingthemselves to hit the ball at the precise moment in time when the putterpath, face and hitting location are correctly aligned with the targetline. Thus, both wildly adopted approaches to executing the traditionalputter stroke suffer from disadvantages that interfere with the ultimategoal, putting the ball into the hole.

[0009] As will become clear from the following detailed description, thepresent invention is directed to a. putter and a method of putting veryshort putts, i.e., within one to two feet of the hole. During such shortputs, the alignment of the putter face perpendicular to the putting lineis critical in that a very small degree of deviation from thisperpendicular will result on the putt either falling to the left orright of the hole rather than being directly on line. With putts of tenfeet or more, such alignment while critical is not the sole essence ofthe putt in that speed and the surface of the green will aid indirecting the ball towards the hole. Moreover, a golfer who performs aputting stroke on a twenty or more foot putt with the ball coming torest within a few inches of the hole would be quite satisfied with theputt; however, a golfer having a one to two foot putt which passes thehole only ¼″ outside the rim of the hole clearly would not be satisfied.Accordingly, it is imperative on such putts that the putting face remainperpendicularly oriented with respect to the line of the putt in thatspeed and the terrain of the putting surface is less important at suchdistances. Accordingly, if a golfer is less apt to miss what can bedetermined as a short putt, the golfer's ability to finish the holewithin the requisite number of putts will be greatly enhanced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention areto provide a golf club putter and method of putting which complies withthe rules of golf as promulgated by the Royal and Ancient GolfAssociation as well as the United States Golf Association and whichprovides the player with an improved view of the ball and head of theputter when putting putts of a short distance and an improved balanceand feel of the club during such putts. Additionally, the method ofputting in accordance with the present invention provides a puttingstroke which aids the golfer in carrying out a putting stroke whichmaintains the putting face of the putter in a perpendicular orientationwhich respect to the line-of-putt. That is, the method set forth inaccordance with the present invention compensates for an inaccurateswing so that when the putter head strikes the ball it is at a rightangle with respect to the desired path of travel of the ball therebycompensating for the golfer's tendency to deviate the putter face fromthe perpendicular orientation with respect to the line-of-putt.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a method of putting agolf ball in a green of a golf course by a golfer is set forth andincludes the steps of standing on an opposing side of a golf hole fromthe golf ball resting a surface of the green, addressing an extendingline of the putt extending from the golf ball through the golf hole,extending a golf putter from the opposing side of the golf hole andpositioning the putter head of the golf putter behind the golf ball withrespect to the golf hole, resting the putter head of the golf putter onthe surface of the green behind the ball and drawing the putter head ofthe golf putter toward the golf hole thereby striking the golf ball on aside of the golf ball opposing the golf hole such that the golf balltravels towards the hole. When addressing the extended line-of-putt, thegolfer positions their feet on opposing sides of the extended line ofthe putt and preferably the feet of the golfer are spaced in equaldistance from the extended line of the putt. The method may also becarried out with on foot on the extended line of the putt or both feeton the same side of the extended line of the putt; however, greateraccuracy is achieved when straddling the extended line of the putt.

[0012] When resting the putter head on the surface of the green behindthe ball, the golfer positions the length of the putter headsubstantially perpendicular to the extended line-of-putt such that thedrawing of the putter head toward the golf ball includes sliding theputter head on the surface of the green which removes one of thecomponents of maintaining the putter head perpendicular to theline-of-putt less variable. Additionally, when extending the golf putterfrom the opposing side of the golf hole, the golfer can align at least aportion a shaft of the golf putter along the extended line-of-puttthereby enhancing the alignment of the putter head.

[0013] Such a method can be carried out utilizing a putter including aputter head where a length of the putter head is greater than the widthof the putter head, a flange secured to and extending along a length ofthe putter head, a shaft extending from the flange and having a firstend secured to the flange and a grip secured to a second end of theshaft. Such that at least a portion of the shaft extends substantiallytransversely to the flange and is aligned with a central portion of theputter head. The putter head is preferably substantially cylindricalhaving a length which is greater than its diameter with the flange beingof a thickness less than a diameter of the putter head. Further, theflange is preferably of a length substantially equal to that of theputter head and may take on a triangular configuration. With suchtriangular configuration, the shaft would preferably extend from an apexof the triangle and consequently be centered with respect to a puttingsurface of the putter head.

[0014] These as well as additional advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent of the following detailed description of thepresent invention when read in light of the several figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putter for use in carrying outthe method of putting in accordance with the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is an enlarged prospective view of the putter head inaccordance with the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the putter head of FIG. 2

[0018]FIG. 4 is a planed view of the putter head of FIG. 2.

[0019]FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the shaft arrangement ofthe putter head in accordance wit the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of the shaft configuration ofthe putter head in accordance wit the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a plan schematic illustration of the method carried outin accordance with the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a side schematic illustration of the method carried outin accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention and more particularly a golf putter incorporating the presentinvention and for carrying out a method of putting in accordance withthe present invention. The golf putter 1 includes a putter head 2, to agrip or handle 4 and an elongated shaft 6 extending therebetween. Aswill be readily apparent, the grip may take on any known configurationand the shaft may take on a variety of configurations which are all wellwithin the scope of the present invention. The putter head 2 preferablyincludes an elongated cylinder 8 having a suitable dimension forcontacting and directing a ball toward a hole. The details of theparticular method set forth in accordance with the present inventionwill be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

[0024] By way of example, the cylindrical body 8 may be of a diameter of1½″ and a length of approximately 4½. Such dimensions while generallywithin the range of putters typically available from most pro shops maybe varied depending upon the preference of the user. Secured to thecylindrical body 8 is a flange 10 which extends along substantially theentire length of the cylindrical body 8. The flange 10 may be slightlylonger or slightly shorter than the cylindrical body 8 while achievingthe advantages set forth in accordance with the present invention andremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. As notedhereinabove, connected to the flange 10 is the shaft 6 which extendsupwardly from a central portion 12 of the flange 10. The particularconfiguration of the flange 10 may be of any geometry; however, anexemplary or preferred embodiment will be described in greater detailhereinbelow.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, the shaft includes an upwardlyextending portion 14, an angular portion 16 and a remaining portion 18which receives the grip 4 at a distal end thereof. The remaining portion18 may be of any desired length so long as it complies with the rules ofgolf as promulgated by the United States Golf Association. With respectto the upwardly extending portion 14 and angular portion 16, thecharacteristics of these portions are dictated by the rules of golf andparticularly Appendix II, Design of Clubs, (2)(a-c). That is, the shaftshall be straight from the top of the grip to a point not more than 5″above the sole, measured from the point where the shaft ceases to bestraight along the axis along the bent part of the shaft and the neckand/or socket. Accordingly, the length of the upwardly extending portion14 and angular portion 16 combined may not be more than 5″ from the soleof the putter head 2. Various configurations of this portion of theshaft will likewise be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 2, the putter head 2 is illustrated inexpanded form and illustrates the flange 10 as being partially insertedinto a groove 20 formed in the cylindrical body 8. This groove extendsalong the entire length of the cylindrical body and receives a baseportion 22 of the flange 10. The central portion 12 of the flange takeson a triangular configuration with the shaft extending from a regionadjacent in apex 24 of the flange 10. In doing so, the proximal portion26 of the upwardly extending portion 14 of the shaft 6 is positioneddirectly behind what can be determined as a sweet spot or centralcontact area of the putter head 2. This provides for greater stabilityin not only conventional putting but carrying out the putting method setforth hereinbelow in a stable manner. Once again, the putter head 2 isillustrated as being a substantially cylindrical element having a flangesecured thereto; however, the putter head 2 may take on a variety ofconfigurations such as oval, multi-angular or elongated so long as theputting method described hereinbelow is carried out in a stable manner.As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, the connection of the shaft 6 withthe flange 10 positions the shaft at a point with respect to thecylindrical body 8 which is offset from a central axis of thecylindrical body 8. In doing so, the method described in detailhereinbelow can be reliably carried out without obstruction from theshaft.

[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, various embodiments of the presentinvention will now be described in detail hereinbelow.

[0028] With respect to FIG. 3, this figure illustrates essentially theembodiment set forth in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the putter head 2 iscomprised of the cylindrical body 8 and flange 10 described in detailhereinabove. The shaft 6 includes an upwardly extending portion 14, anangular portion 16 and a remaining portion 18. The upwardly extendingportion 14 is connected to the flange 10 adjacent the apex 24 of thetriangularly configured flange 10. The particular positioning of theconnection of the upwardly extending portion 14 of the shaft is bestillustrated in FIG. 4. Further, it can be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the upwardly extending portion 14 of the shaftmay be connected to the flange 10 in any known manner so as to positionthe shaft 14 behind a sweet spot of the cylindrical body 8. Further, theconnection between the upwardly extending portion 14 of the shaft 6 andthe flange 10 may be offset from the sweet spot of the cylindrical body8 depending upon the particular preference of the user. However, theconfiguration illustrated herein provides for a higher degree ofstability in carrying out the putting method described hereinbelow.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, it can be appreciated that the putter head 2and more particularly the cylindrical body 8 and flange 10 mayincorporate a shaft 6 which extends straight upwardly from the flange10. That is, the shaft 6 would not include an angular portion 16. Whilethe rules of golf and particularly Appendix II, (1)(d), Alignment,requires that the projection of the straight part of the shaft onto thevertical plane through the toe and heal shall diverge from the verticalby at least 10°, this dictates clubs the standards for putters which areto be used in tournament play and a player is free to use any clubconfiguration in recreational play and particularly may use a putter ofany known configuration for practice or for aiding a player inpracticing the alignment of putts. In this regard, when using the putterhead 2 illustrated in FIG. 5, the method set forth hereinbelow can bereadily carried out with an added extended alignment benefit; however,as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow, the particularmethod set forth hereinbelow may be readily carried out utilizing aputter which conforms to all U.S.G.A. specifications.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 6, a putter head 2 similar to that setforth in each of FIGS. 3 and 5 is illustrated and similarly includes thecylindrical body 8 and flange 10. Connected to the flange 10 in themanner similar to that of FIGS. 1-5, is the shaft 6 which includes anupstanding portion 14 and an angular portion 16. In this embodiment, theangular portion 16 would extend upwardly to a grip 4 thereby notincluding a remaining portion 18. As noted hereinabove, the upwardlyextending portion 14 may extend upwardly a maximum of 5″ from a sole ofthe putter before angling along the angular portion 16 at an angle of atleast 10° with respect to the upwardly extending portion 14.Additionally, while not specifically illustrated the shaft may includeonly an angular portion 16 extending directly from the flange 10 at anangle of not less than 10° thereby removing the need for an upwardlyextending portion 14 or a remaining portion 18. While the angles of theangular portion 16 is referred to as being at least being 10°, thisreference is merely made in accordance with the rules governing thedesign of clubs as promulgated by the U.S.G.A. As one of ordinary skillin the art can readily appreciate, the particular angle of the shaftwith respect to the putter head may vary and is strictly a function ofthe comfort of the user.

[0031] With these particular features in mind, the method of putting setforth in accordance with the present invention will now be described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Particularly, FIGS. 7and 8 illustrate, schematically, the method of putting set forth inaccordance with the present invention.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 7, it is noted that the method of puttingincludes positioning the putter head 2 adjacent a golf ball 30 which isdesired to be putted into a golf hole 32. As described in detail in theRules of Golf and particularly Rule 16, the Putting Green, thedefinition of a line-of-putt is a line which the player wishes his ballto take after a stroke on the putting green. Except with respect to Rule16-1e, the line-of-putt includes a reasonable distance on either side ofthe intended line and the line-of-putt does not extend beyond the hole.Accordingly, the line-of-putt extends from the ball 30 to a point A atthe far side of the hole 32. In accordance with the present invention,an extended line-of-putt 36 extends from the ball along the line-of-putt34 which is the line on which the player wishes the ball to take after astroke on the putting green and passed a golfer who is positioned atposition B along the extended line-of-putt 36. Rule 16-1e recites thatthe player shall not take a stroke on the putting green from a stanceastride, or with either foot touching, the line-of-putt or an extensionof that line behind the ball; however, the Rules of Golf make clear thatthe line-of-putt ends at point A at the back side of the hole and doesextend beyond the hole to the point B referenced in FIGS. 7 and 8.Accordingly, it is within the Rules of Golf that a golfer may astride,stand on, beside or straddle the extended line-of-putt 36 referred toFIG. 7. In carrying out the method of putting in accordance with thepresent invention, the golfer may astride the extended line-of-putt 36positioning their feet F on either side of the extended line-of-putt 36and more specifically position each foot an equal distance from theextended line-of-putt 36 and thus standing on an opposing side of thegolf hole 32 from the golf ball 30 resting on a surface 38 of the green.The golfer then extends the golf putter and particularly positions theputter head 2 of the golf putter behind the ball with respect to thegolf hole and rests the putter heads on the surface 38 of the green. Byutilizing the surface 38 of the green, angular orientation of the soleof the putter with respect to the green is prevented thus removing oneof the variables required to be controlled by the golfer duringperformance of a putt. Once in this position, the golfer may align theshaft 6 of the golf putter along the line-of-putt 34. As notedhereinabove, the shaft 6 takes on a number of configurations andconsequently in order to most benefit the putting method describedherein, a shaft configuration similar to that set forth in any of FIGS.3, 5 and 6 would be beneficial. Additionally, when utilizing theconfigurations set forth in FIGS. 3 and 6, the longer the upwardlyextending portion 14, the better tendency toward alignment will beachieved. Accordingly, as can be readily appreciated, it is desired tomaximize the length of the straight portion extending from the flange 10of the putter head 2. Once in this position, the putter head 2 of thegolf putter is drawn toward the golf hole 32 by the golfer, striking thegolf ball 30 at a side of the golf ball 30 opposing the golf hole 32such that the golf ball 30 travels toward the golf hole. As can bereadily appreciated, the drawing motion particularly a drawing motionutilizing alignment of the putter shaft with respect to the line-of-puttremoves or substantially minimizes yet another variable and the mostsignificant variable in carrying out putts of a length of two feet orless with respect to the hole. That is, most short putts are verydependent upon the angular orientation of the contact surface of thegolf putter with respect to the desired line-of-putt. As can be readilyappreciated, utilizing the drawing motion as well as the stable surfaceof the green, the golfer can readily maintain the contact face of thegolf putter perpendicular to the line-of-putt. Depending upon the lengthof the short putt, a deviation from the perpendicular orientation of thecontact surface with respect to the line-of-putt can result in the balltraveling two or more inches to either the right or left of the centerof the hole. Consequently, it is clear that maintaining theperpendicular orientation of the contact surface of the putter head withrespect to the line-of-putt is critical in ensuring that the golf ball30 travels along the line-of-putt toward the golf hole 32 with minimaldeviation from the line-of-putt.

[0033] Additionally, as can be appreciated from FIG. 8 because theputter head 2 includes flange 10 and the shaft 6 of the golf putter issecured to a position on the flange 10 spaced from a central axis of thecylindrical body 8, the shaft is positioned away from the golf ball 30in order to minimize the possibility of any contact between the shaft 6and ball 30. Further, as best illustrated in FIG. 7, the shaft 6 can bereadily positioned to extend down the line-of-putt 34 which, as notedhereinabove, aids in the positioning the contact surface of thecylindrical body 8 in a position transverse to the line-of-putt 34. Asis readily apparent, carrying out the method of putting in accordancewith the present invention and particularly carrying out such methodutilizing the golf putter described hereinabove, maximizes the golfer'schance of making a short putt by minimizing variables which result inmisalignment of the contact surface of the putter head with theline-of-putt 34.

[0034] These as well as additional advantages of the present inventionwill become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeviating from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the spirit andscope of the present invention is to be limited only by appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A method of putting a golf ball on a green of a golfcourse by a golfer, comprising the steps of the golfer: standing on anopposing side of a golf hole from the golf ball resting on a surface ofthe green; addressing an extended line-of-putt extending from the golfball through the golf hole; extending a golf putter from the opposingside of the golf hole and positioning a putter head of the golf putterbehind the golf ball with respect to the golf hole; resting the putterhead of the golf putter on the surface of the green behind the golfball; drawing the putter head of the golf putter toward the golf hole;and striking the golf ball on a side of the golf ball opposing the golfhole such that the golf ball travels toward the golf hole.
 2. The methodas defined in claim 1, wherein said step of addressing the extendedline-of-putt includes positioning the feet of the golfer on opposingsides of the extended line-of-putt.
 3. The method as defined in claim 2,wherein the feet of the golfer are spaced equal distance from theextended line-of-putt.
 4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein saidstep of extending the golf putter from the opening side of the golf holeincludes aligning a shaft of the golf putter along the extendedline-of-putt.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step ofresting the putter head on the surface of the green behind the golf ballincludes positioning a length of the putter head substantiallyperpendicular to the extended line-of-putt.
 6. The method as defined inclaim 1, wherein said step of drawing the putter head toward the golfhole includes sliding the putter head on the surface of the green. 7.The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of striking the golfball includes making a single contact with the golf ball.
 8. The methodas defined in claim 1, wherein said step of striking the golf ballincludes striking the golf ball with a surface of the putter head.